In ancient times, there was a sage named Xu You. Emperor Yao planned to cede the world to him. Xu You immediately ran away after hearing this. Emperor Yao also planned to make Xu You governor of the Nine Provinces. Xu You not only quit, but also
After listening to it, my ears felt dirty, so I washed them with water.
Therefore, there is a saying, "In the past, it was promised that the emperor would be noble, and the villains in the market would fight for half the profit."
Most scholar-bureaucrats talked about Xu You's spirit, but as the joke goes, people can donate one million very generously, but they are reluctant to donate a cow.
Because I don’t have a million, but I really have this cow.
However, scholars highly praise this method because of its energy.
And the officials also understand the thoughts of you scholars very well.
"I asked you to serve as the Prime Minister" and "I have wronged you to serve as the Prime Minister" are the same sentence, but they sound like those scholars who want to die for their confidants.
Yes, this was a way to win people's hearts, but the officials of the Song Dynasty were willing to pretend like this. At this moment, Zhang Yue truly understood the sentence, that is, 'the emperor and the scholar-bureaucrats rule the world together'.
It is precisely because of this sentence that scholars are highly respected wherever they go.
Zhang Yue thought a lot at this moment. When you are eating in the countryside, someone who is a stranger to you is willing to pay the bill for you, just because you are a scholar and you can't tell what will go well in the future.
When a scholar becomes a Jinshi and is a wise man in the village, he is given a house and property.
When scholars go to Beijing to take exams and stay overnight in the homes of wealthy families, they will also pay for their travel expenses.
Since the Song Dynasty, people have had the habit of making friends with scholars.
Why?
It originates from the words of Song Taizu: "The prime minister should be a scholar."
Because the most extraordinary scholar can be the prime minister.
When the throne changed in the Five Dynasties ago, all the subordinates thought about becoming emperor overnight. After Emperor Taizu and Emperor Taizong, the civil service group became increasingly powerful. Sima Guang and Han Qi were able to help Yingzong ascend to the throne and achieve a smooth political transition. Therefore, when he offended Yingzong, Han Qi comforted him.
those words.
That person supported your feet with his shoulders and brought you to where you are today.
Think of Zhang Zai's four sentences in Hengqu: "Establish a heart for the heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the people. To inherit the unique knowledge of the past saints, and to create peace for all generations."
This sentence is really not just said casually, because scholars in this era really believe that although "rule" belongs to the emperor, "order" belongs to me.
Think about it, Han Qi said these words to himself ten years ago.
The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago, and the second best time is now.
The more Zhang thought of this, the more determined he became in his heart, and he still choked with sobs and said to the emperor: "Your Majesty treats his ministers as national warriors, and I will repay him as national warriors... However"
The emperor has said so. If Zhang Yue is not choked with tears at this time, he will definitely be killed.
"...However, I am not ranked among the 'four heads', and my father-in-law is a privy envoy, so how can I dare to hope for the position of prime minister?"
Skipping the four-tiered head and directly becoming the prime minister, the father-in-law and son-in-law are also prime ministers. After all, this is an example that has never happened in the Song Dynasty.
The Emperor did not expect that Zhang Yue would refuse. After all, since the founding of the Song Dynasty, only Sima Guang had ever resigned as Prime Minister.
Zhang Yue continued: "Your Majesty is eager to use your ministers as prime ministers because there is no one after the king to carry out the reform for your majesty. However, I say something from the bottom of my heart. This reform was carried out by your majesty yourself. It is only expedient to entrust it to you."
It’s just a strategy.”
"Now that His Majesty has been in charge for eight years, it is time to use your strength to achieve success. You must not rely on others."
Previously, when officials had just ascended the throne and were not familiar with the political situation, they could use Wang Anshi to promote reforms. If there was anything wrong with the reforms, Wang Anshi could take the blame for you.
You have been in power for eight years now. It would be bad if you put another minister in front of the stage to promote reforms.
In the final analysis, the advantage of the civil service group lies in adhering to the system, while changing the system is a disadvantage.
Otherwise, in a thousand years of history, there would not be only two people named Wang Anshi and Zhang Juzheng.
The one who really wants to take over the power must be you, the emperor.
After listening to Zhang Yue's words, the officials paced back and forth. Eight years ago, Zhang Yue persuaded him to use Wang Anshi to carry out the reform. Eight years later, Zhang Yue returned to the court and advised him to promote the reform by himself and not to rely on others.
Prime Minister.
This is turning a new page.
The official was a little excited when he thought of this. Of course he wanted to exercise sole authority over the superiors and subordinates, but the problem was...
"Can I do that?"
At this time, the official said this without confidence.
"Of course." Zhang Yue replied very firmly.
What is the purpose of officials using themselves as prime ministers?
Zhang Yue must understand very well that he, like Lu Huiqing, is the crutch that the officials are looking for after Wang Anshi leaves.
When the future official finds out that he can walk, the first thing he will do is throw away his crutches.
In terms of reform, it is very inevitable for officials to move from behind the scenes to the front. He is confused now, but he will figure it out in the future. So whoever becomes the prime minister at this time is a transition.
The transition from Wang Anshi's reform to the emperor actually presiding over the reform.
The official said hesitantly: "Wang Anshi is the most talented in the world, but he implemented reforms and the whole world was scolded. If I come to do it, I am afraid that the country... will be shaken."
Zhang Yue thought to himself that the emperor's thoughts were indeed as he expected, not bad at all.
Because he understood this, he was even more unable to accept the position of ruler.
Zhang Yue said: "I definitely cannot agree with your Majesty's words. The ministers said that the emperor can rule the world with his head bowed, but that is when the emperor is established. When the world is quiet, it is not the time of change and resurgence. Since your majesty wants to be the master of resurgence,
, the power must be in hand, only in this way can the world be restrained."
The official nodded after hearing this. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but that he was afraid that he couldn't.
In fact, over the years, the differences between him and Wang Anshi have grown day by day. Wang Anshi was not a powerful minister, but his stubbornness made the emperor very angry.
If he personally presides over the reform, then...
The official looked at Zhang Yue and sighed: "Among all the ministers, Zhang Qing is the only one who puts himself in my shoes and advises me... I was very moved when I heard your words."
Zhang Yue said: "I am ashamed. What I said is that your Majesty is a good emperor who can put himself in the shoes of the people and make plans for the people of the world. I know that your Majesty's reforms are not for the purpose of seizing power and arbitrary power, but for the well-being of the people of the world. Therefore, I am a good emperor."
I dare to speak out. I hope your majesty can adopt my advice and revitalize the country."
The official took a deep breath and said, "I understand."
Having said this, the official said to the chamberlain on the side: "Announce Han Wei's entry into the palace!"
After a while, Hanlin, a Hanlin scholar, entered the palace according to the order.
The official said to Han Wei: "Han Qing immediately issued an edict and promoted Zhang Yue to be a bachelor of Duanming Palace, a bachelor of Hanlin, and a bachelor of Imperial Academy."
Han Wei said without hesitation: "I accept the decree!"
Duanmingdian bachelors were transferred to those who had been Hanlin bachelors for a long time, and since Zhiping, before Hanlin bachelors were promoted to prime ministers, they were basically required to add Duanmingdian bachelors (with the exception of Lu Huiqing).
Currently, the four Hanlin bachelors, including Hanlin bachelor Chengzhi, are not Duanmingdian bachelors at present.
But the emperor awarded Zhang Yue the position of bachelor of Duanming Palace.
At the same time, the bachelor of Duanming Palace also has the right to participate in the meetings of the second government and predict the decisions.